Explain how is Environmental Science a composite of other areas of study including natural and social sciences, mathematics, technology, business, law, ethnics, philosophy, morality and aesthetics.
Define ecology
Explain why ecology is the scientific base of environmental science.
Briefly describe the concept of sustainable
development.
The student should demonstrate an understanding that there are many interactions within and between ecosystems. All of the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem interact with each other to define that ecosystem and although ecosystems are generally described independently of each other, they are all interconnected at the global level.
How does the concept of homeostasis relate to the existence of an ecosystem.
How are all ecosystems interrelated within the biosphere.
Explain the analogy of the planet earth as a fragile space ship.
Describe the earth as a closed ecological system.
Briefly explain the Gaia theory.
Why is our biosphere so fragile?
Why do we have to acknowledge that there is a sense
of personal responsibility and empowerment in relation to the environment.
The student should demonstrate an understanding that the biosphere is the life-supporting portion of the earth and the surrounding atmosphere, and is defined by a number of interacting factors.
The student should be able to answer the follow questions:
Define the biosphere.
Describe why and how the biosphere is unique in the known universe.
List the three layers of the biosphere and list some plants and animals that occupy each of these layers.
List examples of biotic and abiotic factors.
Explain how the biotic and abiotic factors are interrelated.
Provide examples to illustrate how the interrelationships between biotic and abiotic factors affect ecosystems.
Identify human activity as one of the biotic
factors and give examples of the influences of human activity on the biosphere.
The student should demonstrate an understanding that the biosphere is characterized by distinct climatic and geographic conditions which define the major terrestrial biomes and aquatic realms.
The student should answer the following questions:
Define the term 'biome'.
List the major biomes of the world.
Briefly describe the biomes represented in our province.
Define the term 'ecosystem'.
Describe the concept of ecotone.
The student should demonstrate an understanding that a flow of energy is necessary in order to maintain life in an ecosystem and that the total amount of energy available can support a limited mass of living organisms.
The student should be able to answer the following questions
What is the the source of energy for life on earth.
Describe photosynthesis as the process which converts solar
energy, water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen.
How is photosynthesis the source of energy in all food chains.
How does cellular respiration as the process which uses the products of photosynthesis to produce the energy required for all life processes.
The student should develop an understanding that life is dependent upon the recycling of matter and the cyclic nature of nutrient use in an ecosystem.
The student should be able to answer the following questions:
Briefly describe the water cycle.
Why is water a finite resource.
Briefly describe the carbon-oxygen cycle.
Briefly describe the minerals cycle.
How has human activity affected natural cycles.
Describe how you could make a long-term qualitative observations of a simple closed system.
How are the ecological processes-species
interrelationships, energy flow, watercycle, and etc.-are critical parts of ecosystems.
The student should understand the connection between living organisms through an understanding of the feeding levels within ecosystems, as expressed in the energy, biomass and numbers of Pyramids.
The student should be able to answer the following questions:
Describe, and give examples of trophic levels in an ecosystem.
Explain, using appropriate diagrams, the energy, biomass and numbers pyramids and how they are related.
Construct a typical food web in a Newfoundland ecosystem that illustrates the relationships among the energy, biomass and numbers pyramids.
Analyze the effects of increasing human population
on natural food webs.